RedDoorz, a tech-enabled budget accommodations platform based in Singapore is ready to address the growing demand for quality-yet-affordable accommodations in Cebu, as tourism in the Queen City of the South is expected to continue booming this year.

Over the last few quarters, Cebu has seen a huge uptick in tourist arrivals, after it opened a new and modern global airport in Mactan Island.

The local tourism office of Cebu estimated that around 7.5 million foreign visitors flew to Cebu in 2018, and this is expected to increase by double digits this year, as more and more flights are being mounted to Cebu.

As a result of this, demand for more accommodations in Cebu soared, with average occupancy rates reaching as high as 80 percent in the second half o 2018.

But while Cebu is blessed with a huge selection of luxury and mid-range hotels, travelers today particularly millennials, demand for quality affordable stays with the supply still barely keeping up.

According to research conducted by Yahoo Travel, millennial travelers are more keen on spending their hard-earned cash on experiences over luxury; and post, five-star accommodations do not necessarily align with this inclination.

With this, RedDoorz saw a huge potential in the Cebuano market, quickly expanding to Metro Cebu shortly after it began operations in the Philippines.

“We at RedDoorz are ready to meet the huge demand for budget-but-quality accommodations here in Cebu. We have been successful in helping different Asean cities in helping spur tourism and trade, and we aim to replicate that success in Cebu.,” RedDoorz Chief Operating Officer Rishabh Singhi said.

Rishabh Singhi – Chief Operating Officer, RedDoorz

The company had done aggressive marketing in Cebu, increasing visibility with signages and advertisements, working with local influencers for RedDoorz Race, setting up activations during the Sinulog Festival, as well as partnering with Cebuano influencers and local companies such as The Distillery and Cebu Pacific’s GetGo rewards program.

Transforming the landscape of the budget hospitality industry

RedDoorz is a chain of hotels providing affordable but standardized stays for its customers. In a nutshell, it transforms small unbranded hotels and provides them with the technology and technical know-how in the hospitality industry.

It started in 2015 in Indonesia, and in only a year, started tracking an exponential growth since then. RedDoorz then forayed into Singapore in 2017 and entered Vietnam and Philippines in late 2018.

Today, RedDoorz manages over 680 properties across 40 cities in four countries in Southeast Asia.

Amit Saberwal – Chief Executive Officer, RedDoorz

“With a vision to create more quality lodging options while also helping small property owners enjoy the benefits of tech-enabled and standardized systems, we’ve been able to disrupt and even the playing field for all tourism stakeholders,” RedDoorz Chief Executive Officer Amit Saberwal shared.

At home, it has a portfolio of more than 100 properties across five cities, namely: Cebu, Manila, Davao, Pampanga, and Tagaytay.

Each stay is guaranteed to be as great as a customer’s first RedDoorz experience – if not better – as the company has adopted a philosophy of standardized service with each room equipped with Wi-Fi, drinking water, television, clean bathroom, clean linen, basic amenities, and a 24/7 front desk.

RedDoorz Philippines maintains a consistent management philosophy and branding among its hotels, ensuring the best quality rooms and facilities at competitive price points through its range of basic, Plus and Premium properties.

Through the RedDoorz app and website, customers gain access to flexible payment options including credit cards, DragonPay (via bank transfer and 7-Eleven outlets) and pay at the hotel without credit card guarantee.

RedDoorz also incentivizes repeat guests with the RedCash rewards system and exclusive discounts and partner deals through RedClub membership.

“We are happy to provide our customers with impeccable accommodations at very competitive price points.,” Saberwal said. “So far, we have served over 150,000 users in the Philippines.”

Tourism marketing opportunity

While RedDoorz’s goal is to help travelers discover branded budget stays with a promise of high-quality services, it also aims to help local tourism offices improve their tourism numbers.

For instance, Singhi said local tourism offices could capitalize on the huge digital platform of RedDoorz to promote their tourism destinations.

“Cebu has a wealth of natural resources – pristine beaches, beautiful diving spots, and cascading waterfalls – and rich cultural heritage. WE can help improve tourism by using our platform to promote these destinations, ” Singhi said.

Business opportunity

Aside from being a strong government partner and a platform for budget travelers, RedDoorz also presents a huge opportunity for small unbranded hotel and private property owners.

RedDoorz is actively partnering with property owners to help them transform their unnamed, unbranded, small, mom and pop hotels to be standardized RedDoorz rooms.

It then places these rooms in different global marketing channels, including RedDoorz online and offline platforms, while managing demand and optimizing pricing to maximize revenue potential and growth.

Demand for RedDoorz properties is high. In Metro Manila, 94 percent of RedDoorz-managed properties hit 70 percent occupancy rate level in less than six months.

Some property owners in Metro Manila likewise noted a tripling of their revenues, after getting a strong brand value and more streamlined operations.

“We understand that there it is challenging for smaller hotels and property owners in terms of marketing and brand management, our tech-enabled platform and our expertise in the hospitality industry helps us in helping them solve these problems.,” Singhi said.

Once affiliated with RedDoorz, property owners will be automatically enrolled in the company’s Partner Loyalty Program, which aims to increase staff’s morale and sense of belonging to boost their performance and sharpen their communications kills.

“Our vision is to disrupt and transform the hospitality industry not only in Cebu, but in the whole Philippines to bring quality yet affordable stays closer to travelers, and at the same time, help businesses and local governments unlock their potential,” Singhi added.

Resorts World Manila (RWM), the Philippines’ first integrated entertainment and tourism destination is celebrating its 10th year by staying true to its trailblazing nature through continued growth and innovation, while maintaining its reputation for delivering world-class thrills with a Filipino touch.

Moving in lockstep with the record number of international tourist arrivals to the Philippines, RWM has expanded and upgraded its hotel segment to include major global hospitality brands and saw the opening of the country’s first Holiday Inn Express hotel, the return of the Philippines’ first five-star brand, the Hilton Manila, and most recently the Sheraton Manila Hotel. They join homegrown business traveler hotels Belmont Hotel Manila and Savoy Hotel Manila.

These will be soon followed by the Hotel Okura Manila, another Philippine-first, which will house all-suite accommodations featuring the signature elegance of the esteemed Japanese brand. The Okura’s coming completion will bring RWM’s hotel brand count to seven.

Venturing beyond Manila, RWM’s owner and operator, Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. (TIHGI), has opened the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in the Philippines in Iloilo City – TIHGI’s first foray outside of the Philippine Capital. The property, which opened in May 2018, is also the first 5-star rated hotel in Western Visayas.

To celebrate 10 years of championing the Philippine Performing Arts, RWM, together with the Full House Theater Company (FHTC), will be holding a second run of Ang Huling El Bimbo, which is based on the songs of an iconic 90’s Philippine rock band at the Newport Performing Arts Theater from March 1 to April 6, 2019. The original all-Filipino production has proven to be one of the Company’s most successful productions during its original run in 2018, with multiple sold-out shows and a slew of industry citations.

On the gaming front, RWM has created carefully crafted spaces for
every kind of player.

The newly-opened Grand Wing gaming floor caters to the upscale gamer who prefers the openness and energy of the premium mass market of the Garden Wing. A state-of-the-art live entertainment bar at the Grand Wing features a dynamic stage which allows premium views of shows from every corner of the bar.

With its
Phase 3 development plans set to be completed in 2019, RWM will soon be largest
and most diversified integrated resort in the country in terms of gaming space,
MICE facilities, hotel brands and class segmentations, as well as in retail,
dining, and entertainment.

Martin Paz – Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, Resorts World Manila

Exclusive Hotel Deals

To celebrate 10 years of thrilling the world with a Filipino touch, Resorts World Manila (RWM) is releasingExclusive Hotel Deals, a special 10th anniversary hotel and dining package for discerning members and guests who want to experience the best that the country’s first integrated entertainment and tourism destination has to offer.

For only P20,000 net, Exclusive Hotel Deals package holders can enjoy P54,500.00 worth of hotel and dining perks at RWM.

Taiwan has become an emerging destination of choice for Filipino travelers. This began when Taiwan allowed visa-free entry for Filipinos last year. Previously, Filipino travelers would often choose visa-free Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia for their first out-of-country trip.

The Taiwanese government is continuing to provide Filipinos with visa-free access to Taiwan, until July 31, 2019. With this, Abe Chou, director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Kuala Lumpur is expecting more Filipinos to visit Taiwan.

He shared that a total of 290,000 Filipinos visited Taiwan in 2017. This year, they are targetting to reach 400,000 Filipino visitors, and they are on track to reaching that target because 285,819 Filipinos have already visited the country in January to August of this year. This marks a growth of 57.17% over the same period last year.

Abe Chou, director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Kuala Lumpur

Chou cites our proximity as one of the top reasons to visit Taiwan. Taiwan is only 2 hours away by plane from Manila (2 hours and 45 minutes if coming from Cebu).

With the slogan, “Time for Taiwan”, their government wishes to lure tourists into Taiwan with their good and very affordable food, plus other historical and natural attractions. (My favorite addiction: “bubble tea” originated in Taiwan). Not a lot of people know that Taiwan actually has four seasons, so you can also catch “cherry blossoms” there.

The award-winning Taiwan Cheerleading Team, performed a lively routine with stakeholders and members of the Cebu media as their audience

There are currently six airlines that operate flights between the Philippines and Taiwan. They are China Airlines, Eva Air, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and the latest, TigerAir Taiwan, will be launching direct flights between Cebu and Taipei on December.

I haven’t been to Taiwan, so an immediate visit is in order. See you there?

AirAsia launched last week a relief fund to provide support for Palu, Indonesia which was struck by an earthquake and tsunami on September 28, 2018.

The #ToIDwithLove fund will be collecting donations from until October 31, 2018. All donations will be chanelled to Yayasan Arkom Indonesia to help rebuild homes and improve disaster resilience in affected areas.

A resort which is just 10 minutes away from where I live is moving closer to the completion of its major and hotel-wide renovation! BE Resort, Mactan finally reopens the doors of their all-day dining outlet, Salt Restaurant & Bar, and the steps to a new lounging experience in Mactan, The Deck.

An ode to the natural flavor enhancer with a rich history, Salt features beloved international and local flavors housed in a redesigned building with a more contemporary aesthetic, and now with both climate-controlled and al fresco seating. New furniture and accessories also reflect a more local and tropical feel with woven all-weather materials that resemble the local “banig”, while the frequent use of whites, cream, greys and teal complement the sweeping views of the beach. New lighting fixtures also evoke a more relaxing mood while the newly-installed massive canopy makes sure diners can feast as they wish, rain or shine. The new Salt seats up to 200 persons and serves guests breakfast buffet, with lunch and dinner a la carte, and is open from 6:00am to 10:00pm.

The Deck, on the other hand, was envisioned to become a new lounging destination in the area. Whites and teal allude to one of the ultimate coastal destinations, Santorini. While the furnishings and lighting fixtures mimic the luxury villas on the side of the storied vacation island, one can also enjoy popular and signature cocktails, as well as fuss-free food items, while chilling and admiring the colors of a Cebuano sunset on the horizon of the Hilutungan channel, daily, from 4:00pm to 2:00am.

With the continuous surge of tourism in Cebu, Be Resort, Mactan also continues to step it up with their latest dining and entertainment outlets to deliver their promise of experiences beyond the expected. I cannot wait to visit the resort to check out these new outlets!

This blog was established on June 2010. If it is your first time here, welcome! But if you’ve already been following me before, welcome back.

On this blog, I shared stories from my travels around the Philippines, both solo travels and travels with family. I started with the tagline, “Libutin natin ang sariling atin”, because it was the time when “piso fares” were really “piso”, and I believe that while it is very tempting to explore other countries, we should get to know our own first.

The 454th Fiesta Señor is kicking off in a few months, Sinulog 2019 will finally be on full swing! With the theme “Santo Niño: Guide of God’s Children to Humility and Service”, the religious activities for the annual Sinulog festival will kick on January 10, 2019.

Check out the full schedule of novena masses below:

Meanwhile, you may also check out the full schedule of Sinulog 2019 festival-related activities here.